London's filthiest airports - according to passenger complaints

The study, conducted by Private Tours England, examined Google Reviews for 50 UK airports and counted how often travellers used the word “dirty” in their comments. The ranking is based on the percentage of total reviews mentioning dirt, a measure that captures how frequently cleanliness problems surface in customer experiences.

London Stansted Airport ranks fourth, with 1.18% of reviews mentioning dirt and a total of 454 complaints. While the percentage is lower than Leeds Bradford or Manchester, the high number of mentions shows that busy passenger areas like seating zones and restrooms often attract criticism.

London Luton Airport sits in the middle of the ranking at 0.96% of reviews flagging dirt, with 216 complaints. Passengers frequently point out untidy seating areas and facilities, suggesting that hygiene can impact traveller satisfaction even in mid-sized airports.

Further down the ranking, London Gatwick Airport records 0.62% of reviews mentioning dirt, totaling 191 complaints. Despite being one of the UK’s largest airports, a relatively low percentage indicates that most passengers do not highlight cleanliness as a major concern, although problem areas still appear in reviews.

London City Airport shows the lowest dirt-related mentions among London airports, with 0.32% of reviews noting cleanliness issues and 19 complaints. Its smaller size and compact terminal layout may make it easier to maintain, resulting in fewer passenger complaints compared with the larger hubs.

Leeds Bradford Airport ranks first, with 2.46% of reviews referring to dirt and 151 complaints. Manchester Airport follows in second place (1.45%, 467 complaints), while Belfast International Airport comes third (1.42%, 76 complaints).

Birmingham Airport ranks fifth (1.13%, 173 complaints), while Edinburgh Airport follows close behind at 1.05% with 189 mentions. Newcastle Airport (0.84%, 40 complaints), Bristol Airport (0.80%, 94 complaints), and East Midlands Airport (0.73%, 22 complaints) round out the top ten.

List of the dirtiest airports in the UK: